Simu Liu Clarifies How to Correctly Pronounce His Name

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Class is in session with Professor Simu Liu.

The Marvel actor helped fans learn how to say his name correctly, noting that the Mandarin Chinese pronunciation of ‘Liu’ is often tricky for many people.

“I go by ‘Lee-You,’” Simu shared in a Feb. 25 Instagram video, “which is not that hard.”

Although the actor from Kim’s Convenience uses that way to say his last name, he’s also met people with the same last name who prefer to be called “Loo.”

The 36-year-old explained that many people with the last name Liu grew up in places where it was difficult for others to pronounce, so they often went by the nickname ‘Loo.’ It’s simpler to say and easier for people to remember, which is understandable, they said.

Simu, who was born in Harbin, China and grew up in Ontario, Canada, explained that pronouncing his last name as “Loo” is actually a more accurate reflection of the Chinese pronunciation, “Lu.”

He added, “Just so you know, Lu and Liu are distinct Chinese surnames. It’s worth taking the time to pronounce them correctly.”

I’m a huge Simu Liu fan, and he’s always been so gracious. But he did playfully warn everyone that while either pronunciation of his last name works, getting his first name right – Simu – is non-negotiable! He jokingly said, ‘You better get that right, you guys!’ It’s funny, but also shows how much it means to him to be properly acknowledged.

The Barbie actress also wrote in her post, “If you’re saying you’re going through a phase inspired by Chinese culture, you should make sure you’re pronouncing the name ‘Liu’ correctly.”

Simu’s Instagram post about the importance of pronouncing names correctly resonated with his followers, and even received a comment from singer Laufey, who simply wrote, “It’s not that hard.”

Simu Liu wasn’t the only Liu making headlines recently. He was thrilled to see figure skater Alysa Liu succeed at the 2026 Olympics, and enjoyed hearing his own last name mentioned frequently during the Winter Games while watching her compete.

He posted on X (formerly Twitter) on February 25th that he was enjoying the conversation about how to say Alysa’s last name, ‘Liu.’ People were pronouncing it different ways, like ‘Lieu’ and ‘LEE-you,’ and he found it amusing.

Want to know if you’re mispronouncing celebrity names? Read on to learn the correct pronunciations of some famous stars.

In an August 2025 interview with Town & Country magazine, the Spider-Man actress revealed that people often mispronounce her name, saying it as “kerr-sten” or “criss-ten.”

However, the correct way to say her name is “keer-sten.” 

“I don’t blame people,” she said. “You just give up.”

Denzel Washington revealed his mother, Lennis Washington, inspired him to correct how people pronounce his name, as he and his father share the same name. He also confirmed that fans have been mispronouncing it since 2025.

Denzel Washington corrected Jimmy Kimmel on his late-night show, explaining that people often mispronounce his name. He clarified that it’s actually pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable – ‘Den-zel,’ not ‘Den-zel.’

On their podcast, New Heights, Travis Kelce and his brother Jason discussed how to pronounce their last name. Travis ultimately decided he prefers saying it as “Kels” instead of “Kel-see.”

Paul Mescal, known for his role in Normal People, jokingly told The Hollywood Reporter in 2023 that he might need to create his own drink brand because people so often mispronounce his name.

He explained that people often mispronounce his name, likely because of the alcoholic drink Mezcal. He usually says it as ‘Mescal,’ and jokingly wondered if he ever started a tequila brand, he’d name it ‘Mescal’s Mezcal.’ He admitted he hasn’t quite decided if he’d actually do that.

In a February 2022 interview with TopMob News, Taylor clarified how to pronounce his last name, stating the first syllable rhymes with “out” rather than “lot.”

Ayo doesn’t usually mind when people misspell or misgender her name, but she really dislikes hearing anyone’s name pronounced incorrectly. So, please say her name the way she introduced it – like she did at the 2022 Emmys.

During a 2022 episode of the podcast Locked In, Alex Warren playfully pointed out Tana’s unique way of pronouncing her last name. She responded by saying the pronunciation was a matter of French origin and not her own doing.

Okay, so everyone was getting her name wrong, totally butchering it, and it was stressing me out! But finally, she cleared it all up in a TikTok with Tory Burch! She actually showed us how to say it the right way – the Polish way! And get this, she’s been saying her last name as ‘Rat-Ah-Cow-Skee’! Honestly, it’s so beautiful and I’m just relieved I know how to pronounce it correctly now!

Although many people – and even the singer herself recently – pronounce her name “TUV-LOW,” she explained in 2022 that this isn’t the accurate pronunciation.

She shared on TikTok that the Swedish pronunciation of her name is ‘Toovaloo,’ but she’s happy to respond to ‘TUV-LOW’ as well.

Everyone remembers Raven-Symoné’s psychic character on the show That’s So Raven, but many fans were surprised to learn something about the actress herself. In a January 2023 TikTok video, she shared that people have been saying her name wrong for years – it’s actually pronounced See-mon-ye.

During a December 2022 interview for Variety’s Actors on Actors, Adam Sandler mistakenly said the last name of the Oscar winner. Brendan Fraser then shared a helpful tip for remembering the correct pronunciation: his last name, Fraser, rhymes with razor.

The Haim sisters – Este, Alana, and Danielle – had to explain how to pronounce their last name back in 2013, and many people still say it incorrectly. It’s actually pronounced ‘Hi-Um’, with two syllables.

But hey, no sweat if you have—even Alana has messed it up. 

“That was one, you’re wrong,” Danielle told her in a 2013 tutorial video.

To which Alana jokingly replied, “I’m not a sister, just so everyone knows. I’m an actress.”

Though it doesn’t happen as often now, the actress from Challengers has frequently had to correct people on how to say her unique name.

Zendaya shared that people often mispronounce her name, assuming it’s more complicated than it actually is. She explained in a 2016 video that they tend to say it like ‘papaya,’ when it’s simply pronounced ‘day’.

In an October 2022 Q&A session, the famous singer complimented a fan for pronouncing her name correctly – as “uh-dale” – while asking a question.

In a TikTok video from February 2022, Lindsay Lohan accidentally clarified the correct pronunciation of her last name: “Lo-wen.”

Alicia Silverstone, known for her role in Clueless, recently shared the correct way to say her name in a TikTok video. While she doesn’t mind if people mispronounce it, she explained that her mother always insisted on the correct pronunciation: “Ali-SEE-yuh.”

“My name is Kesha. Keh-sha,” the singer said on TikTok. “Not Keisha. Not Ketchup. Kesha.”

According to an interview with Apple TV+, the uncle of actor Justin Theroux shared that everyone – including Justin himself – has been mispronouncing his last name!

Justin Theroux, who is my nephew, plays the lead role in the TV series based on my book,” Paul Theroux said. He jokingly added, “He sometimes pronounces his name with a French flair – ‘Justin tha-row’ [laughs]. It’s just Theroux, and it’s a French name!”

As a lifestyle expert, I remember when Ariana Grande really surprised everyone back in 2018! She was chatting with Ebro Darden on Beats 1 about her engagement to Pete Davidson, and the conversation turned to whether she’d change her last name. That’s when she casually corrected everyone – it’s actually pronounced ‘gran-dee,’ not ‘gran-day’! It was a total ‘Oh!’ moment, and a lot of people were shocked to learn they’d been saying it wrong all along.

Chrissy Teigen, author of the cookbook Cravings, recently revealed the correct pronunciation of her last name, surprising many. During a 2018 appearance on Live With Kelly and Ryan, she explained that she feels responsible for the common mispronunciation. “I’ve been correcting people for 25 years, and I’m just tired of it,” she said.

Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot recently explained the story behind her last name to Jimmy Kimmel. She shared that “Gadot” means “Riverbank” in Hebrew and is pronounced “guh-dote.” She also revealed that her family’s original last name was Greenstein, but her parents decided Gadot sounded stronger and more impactful.

Okay, this one always gets people! I learned from the actor himself – he was on Conan back in 2012 – that the only places his last name is actually pronounced correctly are Sweden and… believe it or not… Ikea! It’s a fun little fact I always share.

The celebrity has often talked about how often people mispronounce his name. But he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2011 that he wouldn’t correct anyone, because he’s named after his step-grandfather, who said it the same way.

According to the legendary singer’s IMDb page, her stage name is pronounced shar-day.

Okay, so I was rewatching old interviews, and I found this amazing tidbit from 2014! Apparently, when he was on Running Late with Scott Rogowsky, he finally set the record straight on how to say his last name! It’s actually boo-sem-ee, which, honestly, makes SO much sense. But get this – he said he doesn’t correct people if they say boo-shh-em-me! Can you believe it? He thinks it’s not wrong! He’s just too sweet, honestly. He doesn’t want to offend anyone, even when they mispronounce his name! I’m officially adopting boo-sem-ee, though. It just feels right.

The Academy Award-winning actress told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show in 2014 that people constantly mispronounce her last name. She joked that she was tempted to record an audio guide just to show people how to say it correctly.

Make sure you’re pronouncing the name of the Queen’s Gambit star correctly—it’s said as “ahn-yah,” not “awn-yah.”

Okay, so you know Amanda Seyfried? Well, I learned something interesting about her a while back! Back in 2012, she told Hollywood Streams how to actually say her last name – it’s ‘sigh-frid’! Apparently, even her own sister has a slightly different way of pronouncing it, which just goes to show, it’s a tricky one! I always thought it was said differently, and now I know I wasn’t alone!

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2026-02-27 23:48